Lead 3D Environment Artist

Placements24; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical aid

Retirement fund contributions

Paid annual leave

Job summary

Placements24 is partnering with a dynamic game development studio in Gauteng to hire a Lead 3D Environment Artist for their on-site team in Tembisa. You will guide a team of environment artists, set art direction, and ensure both technical and artistic quality across environments.

You will leverage Maya, ZBrush, Substance, and game engines to build immersive worlds, with a strong emphasis on PBR workflows, lighting, and composition.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in 3D environment art for video games.
• Proven lead or senior experience guiding a team.
• Strong portfolio with environment modeling, texturing, lighting and composition.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of 3D environment artists, providing guidance and feedback.
• Define and maintain art style and quality for all in-game environments.
• Collaborate with level designers and art directors to translate concepts into detailed 3D environments.
• Oversee creation of environment assets including modeling, texturing and lighting.
• Ensure optimization of assets for performance across platforms.
• Develop and refine environment art pipelines and best practices.
• Conduct regular reviews to ensure consistency and high visual fidelity.

Skills

Team leadership

3D environment art

Portfolio presentation

PBR workflows

Communication

Tools

Maya

3ds Max

ZBrush

Substance Painter/Designer

Unreal Engine

Unity

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a dynamic game development studio renowned for its immersive virtual worlds, is looking for a talented Lead 3D Environment Artist to join their team in **Tembisa, Gauteng**. This role is central to creating visually stunning and believable game environments that captivate players. You will be responsible for guiding a team of environment artists, establishing art direction for environments, and ensuring the technical and artistic quality of all environmental assets. If you have a passion for building breathtaking digital landscapes and a knack for leading creative individuals, this is an excellent opportunity to contribute to award-winning game titles from our **Tembisa, Gauteng** studio. This is a full-time, on-site position, fostering close collaboration and team synergy.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of 3D environment artists, providing guidance and feedback.
• Define and maintain the art style and quality standards for all in-game environments.
• Collaborate with level designers and art directors to translate concepts into detailed 3D environments.
• Oversee the creation of environment assets, including modeling, texturing, and lighting.
• Ensure optimization of environment assets for performance across various platforms.
• Develop and refine environment art pipelines and best practices.
• Conduct regular reviews of work, ensuring consistency and high visual fidelity.
• Contribute artistically by creating high-quality environment assets.

Requirements

• Minimum of 7 years of experience in 3D environment art for video games.
• Proven experience in a lead or senior role, demonstrating leadership capabilities.
• Strong portfolio showcasing exceptional environment art skills, including modeling, texturing, lighting, and composition.
• Proficiency in industry-standard software such as Maya, 3ds Max, ZBrush, Substance Painter/Designer, and Unreal Engine/Unity.
• Deep understanding of PBR workflows, environmental storytelling, and technical art pipelines.
• Excellent problem-solving and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively within a collaborative team environment.
• Experience with game development in **Tembisa, Gauteng** or South Africa is advantageous.

Benefits

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience.
• Comprehensive medical aid and retirement fund contributions.
• Paid annual leave and public holidays.
• Opportunities for career advancement and skill development.
• Be part of a passionate and innovative game development team in **Tembisa, Gauteng**.
• Access to the latest hardware and software tools.